The genetic age that we report is an estimation of where your dog is in his or her healthspan.
Dogs age at very different rates due to a number of genetic and environmental factors. Body size is a strong genetic influence: for example, a seven year old Great Dane is at the start of his golden years, but a seven year old Pomeranian is just learning what "slow down" means. Just within this example, you can see that the old "one doggie year = seven human years" adage isn’t going to work.
And yet, knowing your dog’s age is important: it informs what your dog needs as far as food, frequency of veterinary checkups, and exercise. So how do you best determine how old your dog is?

Embark's genetic age feature calculates how old your dog would be if he or she were aging at an average human rate (using humans in the USA as the baseline). So going back to our Dane/Pom example, we'd estimate a seven year old Great Dane at about 80 years old (senior citizen), but a seven year old Pom would be about 42 (adult). Makes way more sense, right?

Personalized genetic age table for Chico

Calendar age

Genetic age

1 year

17 human years

2 years

25 human years

3 years

31 human years

4 years

37 human years

5 years

44 human years

6 years

50 human years

7 years

57 human years

8 years

63 human years

9 years

70 human years

10 years

76 human years

All we need from you is a calendar age. It's okay if this is an estimation: it is just a starting point. We then factor in your dog's breed composition, information at certain genes that affect size, and their inbreeding coefficient to calculate genetic age. Like in humans, in dogs females tend to live longer than males (so an “80 year old” female dog = 80 year old woman). Exercise and diet also play a role in how long your dog will live. Nevertheless, genetic age is the primary risk factor for numerous diseases in dogs, including cancer, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, cataracts, cardiac disease and cognitive decline. It can help you and your vet know what you should feed your dog, what screenings to get, and other aspects of your dog’s care.

Wolfiness score

How wolfy is my dog?

Most dogs have wolfiness scores of 1% or less. We find populations and breeds with higher scores of 2-4% occasionally, and unique dogs with scores of 5% or above more rarely.

What it means for my dog

Your dog’s Wolfiness Score is not a measure of recent dog-wolf hybridization and does not necessarily indicate that your dog has some recent wolf ancestors. (If your dog has recent wolf ancestors, you will see that in the breed mix report.) Instead, the Wolfiness Score is based on the number of ancient genetic variants your dog has in our unique Wolfiness marker panel. Wolfiness scores up to 10% are almost always due to ancient wolf genes that survived many generations, rather than any recent wolf ancestors. These ancient genes may be a few thousand years old, or may even date back to the original domestication event 15,000 years ago. They are bits of a wild past that survive in your dog!

The science

Your dog’s Wolfiness Score is based on hundreds of markers across the genome where dogs (or almost all of them) are the same, but wolves tend to be different. These markers are thought to be related to "domestication gene sweeps" where early dogs were selected for some trait. Scientists have known about “domestication gene sweeps” for years, but do not yet know why each sweep occurred. By finding rare dogs carrying an ancient variant at a certain marker, we can make associations with behavior, size, metabolism, and development that likely caused these unique signatures of “doggyness” in the genome.

Predicted Adult Weight

How does weight matter?

For people with puppies, you probably want to know how big of a crate to buy or just how big to expect your dog to become. But genetic weight is also useful for people with fully grown dogs. Just like with people, overweight and obese dogs suffer reduced length and quality of life. They can develop chronic health conditions and suffer from limited mobility and other issues. While over half of American dogs are overweight or obese, fewer than 15% of their owners realize it. By comparing your dog’s weight to their genetic predicted weight you have one more piece of information about their ideal weight. With this and other pieces of information like weight history and body condition, you and your veterinarian may want to discuss your dog’s diet, exercise, and weight control plan to give your pup the longest, healthiest life possible.

How do we predict weight?

Our test is the only dog DNA test that provides true genetic size not based just on breed ancestry but based on over a dozen genes known to influence a dog’s weight. It uses the most advanced science to determine your dog’s expected weight based on their sex, the combination of these genes, and breed-specific modifiers.

How accurate is the predicted weight?

Unlike in people, healthy weight in dogs is controlled largely by only a few genes. Our algorithm explains over 85% of the variance in healthy adult weight. However, due to a few as-yet-undiscovered genes and genetic interactions that affect size, this algorithm sometimes misses. Occasionally it misses by a fairly large amount especially when a dog has a breed with an unknown size-influencing gene. If we have missed your dog’s weight, your dog may be a scientific discovery waiting to happen! Please be sure to go to the Research tab and complete the Nutrition & Exercise assessment, where you can answer the question "Has your dog been weighed in the past 3 months, and if so how much does he or she weigh" by telling us your dog’s actual weight. This information will inform our ongoing research into weight, nutrition and exercise in dogs.

Haplotypes

Revealing your dog’s ancient heritage

Haplotypes are particular DNA sequences that are inherited entirely from a dog’s mom (maternal) or dad (paternal).

Because they are inherited whole, your dog and his or her mom share the exact same maternal haplotype.
If you have a male dog, your dog and his dad share the exact same paternal haplotype (female dogs don’t inherit paternal haplotypes).

Because most breeds were started with only a few individual dogs, many breeds are dominated by only one or a few haplotypes.

Haplogroups

Revealing your dog’s ancient heritage

Haplogroups are groups of similar DNA sequences (called haplotypes) that are inherited entirely from the mother (maternal) or father (paternal) and don’t get shuffled up like other parts of your dog’s genome.

These groups all originally descend from one male or female wolf, usually one that lived tens of thousands of years ago.
Because they are inherited whole and not shuffled like other DNA, they can be used to trace the ancestral routes that dogs took around the globe en route to your home.

Only male dogs have paternal haplogroups because they are determined by the Y chromosome, which only male dogs have. Both males and females have maternal haplogroups, which come from a part of DNA called the mitochondrial DNA.

Breed analysis

Breed analysis is based on comparing your dog’s DNA with the DNA of dogs from over 250 breeds, types and varieties.

How are Chico's ancestors represented in his DNA?

All dogs are related and share some DNA. Siblings share lots of their DNA (half of it in fact), cousins share a bit less (an eighth), and so on. Because dog breeds are made up of a closed group of dogs, all dogs in that breed share a lot of their DNA, typically about as much as second cousins, though it varies by breed. Different breeds that are closely related share somewhat less DNA, and dogs from very different breeds share even less DNA (but still much more DNA than either dog shares with a cat).

DNA is inherited in pieces, called chromosomes, that are passed along from parent to offspring. Each generation, these chromosomes are broken up and shuffled a bit in a process known as recombination. So, the length of the segments your dog shares with his ancestors decreases with each generation above him: he shares longer segments with his mom than his grandma, longer segments with his grandma than his great-grandma, and so on.

How does Embark know which breeds are in Chico?

We can use the length of segments Chico shares with our reference dogs to see how many generations it has been since they last shared an ancestor. Long segments of DNA that are identical to known purebred dogs tell Embark's scientists that Chico has, without a doubt, a relative from that breed. By testing over 200,000 genetic markers, we build up his genes one DNA segment at a time, to learn the ancestry with great certainty. Other dog DNA tests look at many fewer genetic markers and have to take a guess at breed ancestry based on that.

What does this mean for Chico's looks and behavior?

Look closely and you'll probably find Chico has some physical and/or behavioral resemblance with his ancestor's breeds. The exact similarity depends on which parts of DNA Chico shares with each breed. Some traits associated with each breed are listed in the Breed & Ancestry section of our website. Embark will tell you even more about Chico's traits soon!

P.S. In a small proportion of cases, we find dogs that don’t share segments with other dogs we have tested, indicating the presence of a rare breed that is not part of our reference panel or possibly a true "village dog" without any purebred relatives at all. In these rare cases we contact the owner to find out more and let them know about their unique dog before they get their results. With this in-depth detective work, we are pushing science forward by identifying genetically unique groups of dogs.

Still have questions?

Unresolved? Supermutt?

Yes! Some dogs descend from other dogs that were themselves mixed breed. These other dogs can give small contributions to the ancestry of your dog, so small that they are no longer recognizable as any one particular breed. We call this portion unresolved or “Supermutt” since it confers super powers! Just kidding. But we do think supermutts really are super!

For Chico we have been able to go further, and identify some of the breeds that we think may have been part
of his heritage and have contributed to the Supermutt portion of his genome.
We cannot be sure, given how little of their DNA has carried down to Chico, but we thought you might like
to know our best guess anyway!

Chico

Mixed Breed

“I saw Chico at a home and garden show where he was there with his 8 siblings with a rescue group. He stuck out like a sore thumb having a solid black coat and big giant pointy ears while the rest of his siblings were tan/brown with floppy ears. As soon as I saw him I knew he was coming home with me even though we had no plans for a new dog. He was 8 weeks old and has been my best friend thru thick and thin ever since.”

Embark Supermutt analysis

The American Pit Bull Terrier originated in the British Isles and descends from the Mastiff-type dogs introduced to England in antiquity. The breed was brought over to the United States by English immigrants in the 1800s, and quickly became one of the most popular and widespread breeds there.

Bred initially in Northern Siberia, the Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog who is quick and light on their feet. Their moderately compact and well furred body, erect ears and brush tail suggest their Northern heritage. Huskies are very active and energetic and are known for being long distance sled dogs.

This distinctive-looking dog breed has a proud, independent spirit that some describe as catlike. Often aloof and suspicious of strangers, the Chow Chow may not be a cuddle buddy, but for the right person, they are a fiercely loyal companion.

The Labrador Retriever was bred for hunting and excelled in retrieving game after it was shot down. Known for its gentle disposition and loyalty, the Labrador Retriever has become a favorite of families and breeders alike.

Building blocks of life

See which breed every part of Chico’s DNA comes from!

Genes from your dog’s breeds serve as the building blocks to creating your unique pooch

Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes, almost double humans who have 23. 38 of those pairs are the same for all dogs while the 39th is the sex chromosomes - two X’s for females and one X and one Y for males. One copy of each chromosome came from your dog’s mother and one from your dog’s father. Each copy contains between 24 million and 123 million bases, or letters of DNA code, for 2.5 billion total letters inherited from each parent. This chromosome illustration shows a representation of each of your dog’s 38 pairs of chromosomes (excluding the X and Y sex chromosomes).

Because the members of a breed have similar stretches of DNA, we can use our 200,000+ genetic markers to determine what part of each chromosome in your dog came from what breed. For each pair of chromosomes, your dog’s mom and dad each gave your dog one copy of that chromosome, for a grand total of 78 chromosomes. So if your dog’s mom was a poodle and dad was a schnauzer then the painting would show one complete poodle and one complete schnauzer chromosome for each pair. The more complex your dog’s ancestry, the more complex the painting, as in each generation recombination (the splitting apart and "shuffling around" of genes between paired chromosomes) mixes up bits of chromosome from grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond.

Each trait your dog exhibits, such as fur shedding, is based on the letter at one or more locations in your dog’s genome. For example the location determining if your dog sheds their fur is located on chromosome 1. Some other traits, like size, are complexly inherited from many locations, including ones on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 15, and more. Your dog looks the way it does not because of averaging or blending the breeds that form it, but because specific traits were inherited from specific breeds. That’s one reason your mix may look, act, and have certain health issues much more like one breed than another!

Explore

Explore your dog’s DNA story today

What is a linkage test?

DNA sequences that are close together on a chromosome tend to be inherited together. Because of this, we can use genetic variation surrounding a mutation (i.e. "linked" to it) to infer the presence or absence of a mutation of interest.

Linkage tests do not directly assay a mutation of interest; therefore, they may not be perfectly predictive of your dog’s true genotype.

Explore the genetics behind your dog’s appearance and size.

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Base Coat Color

Dark or Light Fur

E (Extension) Locus

Can have dark fur

Genetic Result:
EmE

Gene:
Melanocortin Receptor 1 (MC1R)

This gene helps determine whether a dog can produce dark (black or brown) hairs or lighter yellow or red hairs. Any result except for ee means that the dog can produce dark hairs. An ee result means that the dog does not produce dark hairs at all, and will have lighter yellow or red hairs over their entire body.

Did You Know?

If a dog has a ee result then the fur’s actual shade can range from a deep copper to yellow/gold to cream - the exact color cannot be predicted solely from this result, and will depend on other genetic factors.

This gene helps determine whether a dog produces brown or black pigments. Dogs with a bb result produce brown pigment instead of black in both their hair and skin, while dogs with a Bb or BB result produce black pigment. Dogs that have ee at the E (Extension) Locus and bb at this B (Brown) Locus are likely to have red or cream coats and brown noses, eye rims, and footpads, which is sometimes referred to as "Dudley Nose" in Labrador Retrievers.

Did You Know?

“Liver” or “chocolate” is the preferred color term for brown in most breeds; in the Doberman Pinscher it is referred to as “red”.

This gene helps determine whether a dog has lighter “diluted” pigment. A dog with a Dd or DD result will not be dilute. A dog with a dd result will have all their black or brown pigment lightened (“diluted”) to gray or light brown, and sometimes lightens red pigment to cream. This affects their fur, skin, and sometimes eye color.

Did You Know?

There are many breed-specific names for these dilute colors, such as “blue”, “charcoal”, “fawn”, “silver”, and “Isabella”. Dilute dogs, especially in certain breeds, have a higher incidence of Color Dilution Alopecia which causes hair loss in some patches.

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Coat Color Modifiers

Hidden Patterning

K (Dominant Black) Locus

More likely to have a mostly solid black or brown fur coat

Genetic Result:
KBky

Gene:
Canine Beta-Defensin 103 (CBD103)

This gene helps determine whether the dog has a black coat. Dogs with a kyky result will show a coat color pattern based on the result they have at the A (Agouti) Locus. A KBKB or KBky result means the dog is dominant black, which overrides the fur pattern that would otherwise be determined by the A (Agouti) Locus. These dogs will usually have solid black or brown coats, or if they have ee at the E (Extension) Locus then red/cream coats, regardless of their result at the A (Agouti) Locus. Dogs who test as KBky may be brindle rather than black or brown.

Did You Know?

Even if a dog is “dominant black” several other genes could still impact the dog’s fur and cause other patterns, such as white spotting.

This gene is responsible for causing different coat patterns. It only affects the fur of dogs that do not have ee at the E (Extension) Locus and do have kyky at the K (Dominant Black) Locus. It controls switching between black and red pigment in hair cells, which means that it can cause a dog to have hairs that have sections of black and sections of red/cream, or hairs with different colors on different parts of the dog’s body. Sable or Fawn dogs have a mostly or entirely red coat with some interspersed black hairs. Agouti or Wolf Sable dogs have red hairs with black tips, mostly on their head and back. Black and tan dogs are mostly black or brown with lighter patches on their cheeks, eyebrows, chest, and legs. Recessive black dogs have solid-colored black or brown coats.

Did You Know?

The ASIP gene causes interesting coat patterns in many other species of animals as well as dogs.

In addition to determining if a dog can develop dark fur at all, this gene can give a dog a black “mask” or “widow’s peak,” unless the dog has overriding coat color genetic factors. Dogs with one or two copies of Em in their result will have a mask, which is dark facial fur as seen in the German Shepherd and Pug. Dogs with no Em in their result but one or two copies of Eg will instead have a "widow's peak", which is dark forehead fur.

Did You Know?

The widow’s peak is seen in the Afghan Hound and Borzoi, where it is called either “grizzle” or “domino”.

The RALY gene is responsible for the Saddle Tan coat pattern, where a dog's black hairs recede into a "saddle" shape on the back as the dog ages, leaving a tan face, legs, and belly. This gene only impacts dogs that have atat at the A (Agouti) Locus, do not have ee at the E (Extension) Locus, and do not have KB at the K (Dominant Black) Locus. Dogs with one or two copies of the normal "N" allele are likely to have a saddle tan pattern. Dogs that with a II result (where "I" represents the mutant allele) are more likely to be mostly black with tan points on the eyebrows, muzzle, and legs as commonly seen in the Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler.

Did You Know?

The Saddle Tan pattern is characteristic of breeds like the Corgi, Beagle, and German Shepherd.

This gene is responsible for mottled or patchy coat color in some dogs. Dogs with an M*m result are likely to have merle coat patterning or be "phantom" merle (where the merle allele is not obvious in their coat). Dogs with an M*M* result are likely to have merle or double merle coat patterning. Dogs with an mm result are unlikely to have a merle coat pattern.

Did You Know?

Merle coat patterning is common to several dog breeds including the Australian Shepherd, Catahoula Leopard Dog, and Shetland Sheepdog.

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Other Coat Traits

Furnishings
LINKAGE

Likely unfurnished (no mustache, beard, and/or eyebrows)

Genetic Result:
II

Gene:
RSPO2

This gene is responsible for “furnishings”, which is another name for the mustache, beard, and eyebrows that are characteristic of breeds like the Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, and Wire Haired Dachshund. A dog with an FF or FI result is likely to have furnishings. A dog with an II result will not have furnishings. We measure this result using a linkage test.
WHAT’S THIS?

Did You Know?

In breeds that are expected to have furnishings, dogs without furnishings are the exception - this is sometimes called an “improper coat”.

This gene is known to affect hair/fur length in many different species, including cats, dogs, mice, and humans. In dogs, a TT result means the dog is likely to have a long, silky coat as seen in the Yorkshire Terrier and the Long Haired Whippet. A GG or GT result is likely to mean a shorter coat, like in the Boxer or the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Did You Know?

In certain breeds, such as Corgi, the long coat is described as “fluff.”

This gene affects how much a dog sheds. Dogs with furnishings or wire-haired coats tend to be low shedders regardless of their result for this gene. In other dogs, a CC or CT result indicates heavy or seasonal shedding, like many Labradors and German Shepherd Dogs. Dogs with a TT result tend to be lighter shedders, like Boxers, Shih Tzus and Chihuahuas.

For dogs with long fur, dogs with a TT or CT result will likely have a wavy or curly coat like the coat of Poodles and Bichon Frises. Dogs with a CC result will likely have a straight coat—unless the dog has a "Likely Furnished" result for the Furnishings trait, since this can also make the coat more curly.

Did You Know?

Dogs with short coats may have straight coats, whatever result they have for this gene.

This gene can cause hairlessness over most of the body as well as changes in tooth shape and number. This particular gene occurs in Peruvian Inca Orchid, Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless), and Chinese Crested; other hairless breeds are due to different genes. Dogs with the NDup result are likely to be hairless while dogs with the NN result are likely to have a normal coat. We measure this result using a linkage test.
WHAT’S THIS?

Did You Know?

The DupDup result has never been observed, suggesting that dogs with that genotype cannot survive to birth.

This gene causes oculocutaneous albinism type 2 (OCA2), also known as Doberman Z Factor Albinism. Dogs with a DD result will have OCA2. Effects include severely reduced or absent pigment in the eyes, skin, and hair, and sometimes vision problems due to lack of eye pigment (which helps direct and absorb ambient light) and are prone to sunburn. Dogs with a ND result will not be affected, but can pass the mutation on to their offspring. We measure this result using a linkage test.
WHAT’S THIS?

Did You Know?

This particular mutation can be traced back to a single white Doberman Pinscher born in 1976, and it has only been observed in dogs descended from this individual.

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Other Body Features

Muzzle Length

Likely medium or long muzzle

Genetic Result:
CC

Gene:
BMP3

This gene affects muzzle length. A dog with a AC or CC result is likely to have a medium-length muzzle like a Staffordshire Terrier or Labrador, or a long muzzle like a Whippet or Collie. A dog with a AA result is likely to have a short muzzle, like an English Bulldog, Pug, or Pekingese.

Did You Know?

At least five different genes affect snout length in dogs, with BMP3 being the only one with a known causal mutation. For example, the muzzle length of some breeds, including the long-snouted Scottish Terrier or the short-snouted Japanese Chin, appear to be caused by other genes. This means your dog may have a long or short snout due to other genetic factors. Embark is working to figure out what these might be.

This is one of the genes that can cause a short bobtail. Most dogs have a CC result and a long tail. Dogs with a CG result are likely to have a bobtail, which is an unusually short or absent tail. This can be seen in many “natural bobtail” breeds including the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the Australian Shepherd, and the Brittany Spaniel. Dogs with GG genotypes have not been observed, suggesting that dogs with such a result do not survive to birth.

Did You Know?

While certain lineages of Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, Rottweiler, Miniature Schnauzer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Parson Russell Terrier, and Dobermans are born with a natural bobtail, it is not always caused by this gene. This suggests that other unknown genetic effects can also lead to a natural bobtail.

This is one of the genes that can cause hind dew claws, which are extra, nonfunctional digits located midway between a dog's paw and hock. Dogs with a CT or TT result have about a 50% chance of having hind dewclaws. Hind dew claws can also be caused by other, still unknown, genes. Embark is working to figure those out.

Did You Know?

Hind dew claws are commonly found in certain breeds such as the Saint Bernard.

This gene can cause heavy muscling along the back and trunk in characteristically "bulky" large-breed dogs including the Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, and Rottweiler. A dog with the TT result is likely to have heavy muscling. Leaner-shaped large breed dogs like the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, and Scottish Deerhound generally have a CC result. The TC result also indicates likely normal muscling.

Did You Know?

This gene does not seem to affect muscling in small or even mid-sized dog breeds with lots of back muscling, including the American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, and the English Bulldog.

This gene is associated with blue eyes in Arctic breeds like Siberian Husky as well as tri-colored (non-merle) Australian Shepherds. Dogs with a DupDup or NDup result are more likely to have blue eyes, although some dogs may have only one blue eye or may not have blue eyes at all; nevertheless, they can still pass blue eyes to their offspring. Dogs with a NN result may have blue eyes due to other factors, such as merle or white spotting. We measure this result using a linkage test.
WHAT’S THIS?

Did You Know?

Embark researchers discovered this gene by studying data from dogs like yours. Who knows what we will be able to discover next? Answer the questions on our research surveys to contribute to future discoveries!

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Body Size

Body Size 1

Larger

Genetic Result:
NN

Gene:
IGF1

This is one of several genes that influence the size of a dog. A result of II for this gene is associated with smaller body size. A result of NN is associated with larger body size.

No Result

For every test, we run multiple assays to ensure the accuracy of the results we deliver. For your dog, one or more of these produced inconclusive or low confident results. Therefore, we are not able to provide you with a result at this time.

Performance

Altitude Adaptation

Normal altitude tolerance

Genetic Result:
GG

Gene:
EPAS1

This gene causes dogs to be especially tolerant of low oxygen environments, such as those found at high elevations. Dogs with a AA or GA result will be less susceptible to "altitude sickness."

Did You Know?

This gene was originally identified in breeds from high altitude areas such as the Tibetan Mastiff.

This gene influences eating behavior. An ND or DD result would predict higher food motivation compared to NN result, increasing the likelihood to eat excessively, have higher body fat percentage, and be more prone to obesity. Read more about the genetics of POMC, and learn how you can contribute to research, in our blog post. We measure this result using a linkage test.
WHAT’S THIS?

Did You Know?

POMC is actually short for "proopiomelanocortin," and is a large protein that is broken up into several smaller proteins that have biological activity. The smaller proteins generated from POMC control, among other things, distribution of pigment to the hair and skin cells, appetite, and energy expenditure.

Explore

Explore your dog’s DNA story today

Through Chico’s mitochondrial DNA we can trace his mother’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends.
This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1e

Haplotype

A234

A1e

Chico’s Haplogroup

This female lineage likely stems from some of the original Central Asian wolves that were domesticated into modern dogs starting about 15,000 years ago. It seemed to be a fairly rare dog line for most of dog history until the past 300 years, when the lineage seemed to “explode” out and spread quickly. What really separates this group from the pack is its presence in Alaskan village dogs and Samoyeds. It is possible that this was an indigenous lineage brought to the Americas from Siberia when people were first starting to make that trip themselves! We see this lineage pop up in overwhelming numbers of Irish Wolfhounds, and it also occurs frequently in popular large breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards and Great Danes. Shetland Sheepdogs are also common members of this maternal line, and we see it a lot in Boxers, too. Though it may be all mixed up with European dogs thanks to recent breeding events, its origins in the Americas makes it a very exciting lineage for sure!

A234

Chico’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1e haplogroup, this haplotype occurs in village dogs in South America, South Asia, and into the South Pacific. Among breeds, we see it in highest frequency among Vizslas, Boxers, and Yorkshire Terriers.

Explore

Explore your dog’s DNA story today

Through Chico’s Y-chromosome we can trace his father’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends.
This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1a

Haplotype

H1a.29

A1a

Chico’s Haplogroup

Some of the wolves that became the original dogs in Central Asia around 15,000 years ago came from this long and distinguished line of male dogs. After domestication, they followed their humans from Asia to Europe and then didn't stop there. They took root in Europe, eventually becoming the dogs that founded the Vizsla breed 1,000 years ago. The Vizsla is a Central European hunting dog, and all male Vizslas descend from this line. During the Age of Exploration, like their owners, these pooches went by the philosophy, "Have sail, will travel!" From the windy plains of Patagonia to the snug and homey towns of the American Midwest, the beaches of a Pacific paradise, and the broad expanse of the Australian outback, these dogs followed their masters to the outposts of empires. Whether through good fortune or superior genetics, dogs from the A1a lineage traveled the globe and took root across the world. Now you find village dogs from this line frolicking on Polynesian beaches, hanging out in villages across the Americas, and scavenging throughout Old World settlements. You can also find this "prince of patrilineages" in breeds as different as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Border Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Irish Wolfhounds. No male wolf line has been as successful as the A1a line!

H1a.29

Chico’s Haplotype

Part of the A1a haplogroup, this haplotype occurs most frequently in mixed breed dogs.